The Oakland Athletics cruised at home on Monday night and got some help from a division rival to pull back in to first place in the American League West Division. First, the Athletics shut out the Texas Rangers, 9-0, at Oakland Coliseum to stay hot after a series win against the Houston Astros over the weekend. Khris Davis had a big home run while wearing a jersey signed by a fan from the Make a Wish Foundation, which just adds to how special this night was for everyone involved.
Ramon Laureano connected for his first two career home runs, and Mike Fiers continued to roll since coming over from the Detroit Tigers. Fiers threw seven shutout innings and struck out eight to earn his ninth win of the season overall in his third start with Oakland. Stephen Piscotty went deep and Marcus Semien contributed a big RBI double to add to the run support that their new starter received on this night.
Davis's home run traveled 438 feet for his 37th long ball of the season, as sixth grader Anthony Slocumb's signature sat on his left shoulder. The 10-year-old is in remission from cancer and was in attendance for this game. The Rangers' 45-year-old starter Bartolo Colon suffered his 11th loss of the season just one day after he was scratched for back stiffness.
Elsewhere out west, the Seattle Mariners not only helped the Athletics, but stayed well within striking distance in the division race themselves. Robinson Cano hit his first home run since returning from PED suspension, this a go-ahead three-run shot in the eighth inning for a 7-4 win over the Astros. The loss for Houston pulls them back in to a tie for first place in the division with the A's, while the Mariners sit just 3.5 games back as well.
Seattle has now won five straight games against the defending World Series Champions. Cano had a big night overall, adding two doubles before the game-winner for his first two extra-base hits since coming back. Collin McHugh gave up the big hit to suffer his second loss, as the Astros could not stay ahead after beating the Athletics on Sunday afternoon to take back a one-game lead.
Cano's long ball was his fifth of the season and first since May 12th against the Detroit Tigers. The Mariners got off to a tough start on the night, going 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Mitch Haniger snapped out of that funk with an RBI single in the sixth, and Cano's hit would come just two innings later with two runners on. Alex Colome earned his fourth win, as he and Adam Warren did not allow a baserunner on the night. Edwin Diaz came in to tie a franchise record with his 48th save of the season in the ninth.
Both of these crucial series will continue on out west on Tuesday night.
Ramon Laureano connected for his first two career home runs, and Mike Fiers continued to roll since coming over from the Detroit Tigers. Fiers threw seven shutout innings and struck out eight to earn his ninth win of the season overall in his third start with Oakland. Stephen Piscotty went deep and Marcus Semien contributed a big RBI double to add to the run support that their new starter received on this night.
Davis's home run traveled 438 feet for his 37th long ball of the season, as sixth grader Anthony Slocumb's signature sat on his left shoulder. The 10-year-old is in remission from cancer and was in attendance for this game. The Rangers' 45-year-old starter Bartolo Colon suffered his 11th loss of the season just one day after he was scratched for back stiffness.
Elsewhere out west, the Seattle Mariners not only helped the Athletics, but stayed well within striking distance in the division race themselves. Robinson Cano hit his first home run since returning from PED suspension, this a go-ahead three-run shot in the eighth inning for a 7-4 win over the Astros. The loss for Houston pulls them back in to a tie for first place in the division with the A's, while the Mariners sit just 3.5 games back as well.
Seattle has now won five straight games against the defending World Series Champions. Cano had a big night overall, adding two doubles before the game-winner for his first two extra-base hits since coming back. Collin McHugh gave up the big hit to suffer his second loss, as the Astros could not stay ahead after beating the Athletics on Sunday afternoon to take back a one-game lead.
Cano's long ball was his fifth of the season and first since May 12th against the Detroit Tigers. The Mariners got off to a tough start on the night, going 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Mitch Haniger snapped out of that funk with an RBI single in the sixth, and Cano's hit would come just two innings later with two runners on. Alex Colome earned his fourth win, as he and Adam Warren did not allow a baserunner on the night. Edwin Diaz came in to tie a franchise record with his 48th save of the season in the ninth.
Both of these crucial series will continue on out west on Tuesday night.
